The Watchers - 1

Xayah knew a superior, better-than-you sneer expression better than anyone. She worked right in and alongside wretched, spoiled nobles. Dealing with scornful and haughty expressions was a daily occurance from those who thought their shit didn't stink. But from these so-called Watchers? Well, it stoked the ever present flame of defiance and attitude within her that seemed to always flare to life when dealing with nobles. 

Good to know it applied here too.

"Actions are louder than words, huh?" Xayah asked the haedian next to her. The druid was a sweetheart and young, and seemed all too ready to scurry back to her clan.

"Yes. They will only give you the time of day if you can prove you are worth it. Words don't mean much to them… perhaps you try to keep up with them? I'm not certain if it'll work, but it may help prove you're more than just a surface dweller who can't fly."

Xayah's eyes narrowed as she watched some of the other clan leaping through the caves and caverns. It would be a challenge for sure, but she would not be brushed aside and ignored. Not by fucking anyone. Not pompous worthless nobles, and certainly not some new clan of haedians. Xayah would be better than them- all of them. She would carve out her place in the world forcibly if need be, and prove her fangs and claws were just as strong as her will.

"So be it. They're the so-called listeners too- they likely already know I will not be swayed from this challenge." 

The vayron watched for a few moments to gain a bit more of an understanding of where they were going and how exactly she was going to go about this. It wasn't a whole lot more that she was able to see, but it was better than nothing. Learning on the fly would be more than fine as well, would be necessary if she were to succeed in some way. And what the hell would her success even look like? How long did she have to keep up with them before they graced her with their attention? Regardless, she would follow after them until she physically no longer could.

Xayah watched one more haedian swoop through a tunnel before taking off in pursuit, her eyes locked onto them and her claws digging into the stone beneath her paws with each stride. She was no puller. Wasn't stacked with muscle- she was training her magic for goodness sake. But she was fast, and for now that was all she needed to be right now. Strength would be an obstacle for later, if at all. Not something to concern herself with now.

Xayah felt a burn in her legs and body as she continued to push herself, continued to leap over gaps and skid claw her way up and over obstacles of sorts. Loose rocks and pebbles clattered along the floor as she skidded around a corner, Xayah's claws sending some more flying behind her as she continued to push herself to maintain her pursuit. Even her lungs were burning with the effort, a slick layer of sweat appearing along her and the friction points of her body. Absolutely disgusting of a feeling for her, one she would make sure to be rid of as soon as possible. A thing that would be handled as soon as she was done… whenever that would be. It almost felt as if she would be running forever at this rate, that her body would give out before they finally granted her a chance to speak with them.

Xayah could barely think of or remember exactly what she wished to speak about with how ragged she was feeling, how her vision seemed to grow more tunneled by the second the longer this chase went on. That alone pissed her off, though. That she would be so worn down by a simple pursuit in order to impress these haedians. She was no bumbling fool who easily lost her tongue. Was not one who would be cowed into doubt over a challenge taking longer than expected to end. She would not fail.

Xayah urged her legs to move faster, ignoring the growing numbness of sorts she could feel from the strain of constant sprinting. She was so focused on keeping that tail of theirs in her sight that when they finally came to a stop and landed on one of the many thick branches, Xayah almost kept running. 

The vayron skidded to a stop as her head snapped around and up to look at the haedian- haedians that were observing her. Almost stumbled over her paws as she righted herself and tried to calm her heavy, ragged breathing as she attempted to catch her breath and ignored the trembling along her body.

Oh yeah. When all of this was said and done, she was going to collapse somewhere.

"I'm surprised you managed to keep up with them," A voice to her right mused, another vayron having already reached this point apparently. A female of vast blues with pops of gold- both her swirling markings and the actual gold decorating her body. "Go ahead and catch your breath. You've garnered their attention, so do what you need to in order to collect yourself."

"H-how are you here?" Xayah panted, visibly confused by this other vayron's presence and her own inability to notice her until now. "And who are you?"

"I'm Yulani, and I'm simply observing. That's all. I've been more focused on assisting the other clans, but I do enjoy watching these races when time permits. I've no interest in taking part in this race of theirs though. I'll leave that to others like you. We can have a proper introduction later."

It was clear Yulani was done speaking to her at the moment, instead turning her focus up to the haedians as well. A silent gesture of get to it. Something Xayah would put off no longer, now that she'd caught her breath and regained her composure. It was time to have the conversation she earned.